Mules vs. Idalou, Slaton & Dimmtt (2-14, 16 & 17)

Mules vs. Idalou, Slaton & Dimmtt (2-14, 16 & 17)

The Mules were in a must-win situation Tuesday night when they faced the Idalou Wildcats in the final regular season game. The Mules successfully defended their home court 54-45 to stay locked in a three-way tie for the third and fourth place in District 2-3A. 

The Dimmitt Bobcats won the coin flip for the bye in the seeding tournament, so the Mules and Slaton Tigers tangled Thursday evening at Shallowater. The Mules came out on top of the Tigers 57-49. 

The day off seemed to give the Dimmitt Bobcats more energy than what the Mules had left in their tanks. Dimmitt defeated the Mules 53-49 to claim third place in the district. The third place Bobcats played the Childress Bobcats for Bi-District Tuesday night at 8:00 PM in Canyon Randall High Gym. 

The Mules are the fourth-place team from District 2-3A and faced the number one seed, Canadian Wildcats for Bi-District in the Amarillo High Gym Tuesday night at 5:00 PM. 

The Mules jumped on Idalou in the first period and outscored the Wildcats 18-10. Dagen Dunham led the charge for the Mules with three hoops and a pair of free throws. Tre Villa scored on an inbound play and sank a trey. Donovan Gutierrez made a layup, and Jason Florez nailed a 3-pointer. 

The Mules added to their lead in the second period with a 12-10 run. Florez sank a pair of hoops and a charity toss. Jesse Leal finished a three-point play by making a free throw after fighting through a foul for a hoop. Beto Diaz and Dunham made a basket each. The Mules led 30-20 at the half. 

The third period was low scoring, but the Mules outlasted Idalou 8-5. Leal sank a pair of hoops, Diaz, and Dunham made a basket each. The Mules led 38-25 after three quarters. 

Dunham owned the final period for the Mules. He scored 12 points in last quarter with four baskets and four free throws. Gutierrez and Diaz added the Mules last two baskets in the win. 

Dunham led the Mules with 24 points. Florez added eight points, Leal dropped in seven points, and Diaz scored six points. Villa finished with five points, and Gutierrez chipped in four points. 

The Mules got off to a slow start Thursday night against Slaton, but by the end of the first quarter, the Mules had cut the Tiger lead to 13-12. Dunham sank a trey two minutes into the game and chipped in a hoop before the period ended. Gutierrez and Villa made a basket each. Florez sank three free throws. 

Villa dropped a bomb from behind the arc in the second period and made a basket. Florez made a lay as well as chipped in a free throw. Leal, Diaz, and Dunham each had made hoops before the half ended. The Mules led 26-24 at the intermission. 

Dunham scored on a feed from Gutierrez, put back a rebound, and drove coast-to-coast for three hoops in the third quarter. Florez led a fast break, chipped in a free throw, and sank a short jumper. Gutierrez finished the period with a basket. The Mules had increased their lead to 39-34.

Diaz heated up for the Mules in the final quarter with four free throws and three hoops for 10 points. Mario Flores sank a 3-pointer from the corner and made a layup. Dunham put back a rebound, and Florez chipped in a free throw. 

Dunham set the scoring pace with 15 points. Florez and Diaz added 12 points each. Villa made all seven of his points in the first half. Flores finished with five points, Gutierrez made four and Leal chipped in two.  

The Mules traveled back to Shallowater Friday evening to play the Dimmitt Bobcats and determine the third and fourth place in the district. 

The Mules jumped out to a fast against the Bobcats but could not hang on to the large advantage. Dunham got the Mules started with a pair of hoops. Diaz and Javy Perez made a pair of baskets each. Flores and Villa chipped in two free throws each. 

Florez made four hoops in the second quarter. Flores and Dunham added a basket each. But Dimmitt took the advantage in the second period to lead the Mules 30-28 at the half. 

Diaz and Florez made a hoop each in the third quarter. Villa sank a 3-pointer just before the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter. Dimmitt led the Mules 38-35 with one quarter left to play. 

The Mules could stay close to Bobcats in the last quarter but could not get passed them. 

Dunham scored three hoops in the final period. Florez made a pair of free throw and added a basket. Flores chipped in one basket. 

The Mules played the Canadian Wildcats Tuesday afternoon at 5:00 PM for a Bi-District gold ball.